How Built Robotics Is Automating Solar Construction

TL;DR

Built Robotics converts standard excavators into fully autonomous pile-driving robots that install up to 200,000 solar foundation piles without human labor.

Key Points

• 1.Their "Exo System" is a bolt-on brain housing a computer and sensors that retrofits onto any OEM excavator (CAT, John Deere, etc.) in a short time
• 2.Two robots work in tandem: the RPD (Robotic Pile Driver) carries and hammers piles, while the RPS (Robotic Pile Stabilizer) aligns and holds them — mimicking holding a nail before swinging
• 3.Custom RGB cameras run a construction-specific AI safety model that pauses the robot if any person enters within 50–60 feet of the work zone
• 4.The system can run 24/7 including at night, replacing a multi-crew, multi-month manual process of survey crews placing hundreds of thousands of color-coded pins by hand
• 5.Currently Built Robotics leases the machines rather than selling them, and is focused on pile driving first with plans to expand into full solar site automation including panel placement